Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame explained

The Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame was a professional wrestling hall of fame maintained by the United States Wrestling Association. The induction ceremony for the Class of 1994, the inaugural inductees into the Hall of Fame, took place at the USWA's "Monday Night Memories", a tribute show, held at the Mid-South Coliseum on March 7, 1994. Tommy Gilbert, a longtime Memphis wrestler, referee and promoter, led the class, which included wrestlers Sputnik Monroe, Al and Don Greene, commentator Lance Russell, and promoter Jerry Jarrett.[1] [2] [3]

The success of the first "Memphis Memories" show, attended by over 8,300 fans,[3] resulted in Randy Hales being made head booker of the USWA. Ironically, Eddie Gilbert, with much of the event revolving around his feud with Jerry Lawler, was upset at having been passed over for the position and left the promotion within a few weeks.[4]

On June 10, 1995, the Class of 1995 was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Like the previous ceremony, it was held during a wrestling event, Memphis Memories II, at the Mid-South Coliseum. Wrestler Jackie Fargo's induction led the Class of 1995, which consisted of wrestlers "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert, Phil Hickerson, Joe LeDuc, and Billy Wicks. In addition to the inductees, the event featured a special "legends introduction" of Memphis wrestling stars including Corsica Joe, Tommy Gilbert, Gypsy Joe, Jerry Jarrett, Sara Lee, Eddie Marlin, Frank Morell, Buddy Wayne, and Jim White. The 1995 edition was attended by 3,850 fans.[5] Only one inductee, Eddie Gilbert, was inducted posthumously.[6] [7] Overall, there were ten inductees; one commentator, and promoter, and eight wrestlers.[1] [2]

The hall of fame ceased being maintained following the close of the USWA in 1997, however, there have been attempts to revive the idea in recent years. Since 2002, the website KayfabeMemories.com has fan-based voting, similar to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, for each of the various "territory-era" promotions, including the Memphis wrestling territory, covered by the website.[8] From 2008 to 2010, the website RasslinRiotOnline.com also presented its own version of the Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame.[9]

In 2017, the Hall of Fame was reactivated. Since then, they hosted two more ceremonies: one in 2018 and one in 2021. A new website was launched in 2021. Memphiswrestlinghalloffame.com

Inductees

YearRing name
Inducted forNotes
1994Wrestling, Refereeing, and PromotingWon the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (6 times), NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (11 times), NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship (4 times), and NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times)
1994WrestlingWon the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (10 times) and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time)
1994Christine Jarrett
1994Wrestling and PromotingOwner of the Continental Wrestling Association and the United States Wrestling Association; won the CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (10 times), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time), NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship (1 time)
1994[10] Ring announcing and commentatingLongtime ring announcer and commentator for NWA Mid-America and the Continental Wrestling Association; first commentator for the CWA's Championship Wrestling television program
1994
WrestlingWon the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time), NWA Tennessee Heavyweight Championship (2 times), and NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship (2 times)
1994Tojo YamamotoWrestling and ManagerICW United States Tag Team Championship (1 time), AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (12 times), Long time manager in the Memphis territory
1995
WrestlingWon the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (5 times), NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times), NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (5 times), NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (22 times), and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (15 times)
1995
WrestlingPosthumous inductee; won the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time), AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (4 times), CWA International Heavyweight Championship (2 times), USWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time), USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time), USWA Tag Team Championship (1 time), and USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
1995Phil Hickerson[11] WrestlingWon the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (9 times), CWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time), CWA International Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time)
1995
WrestlingWon the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (2 times), AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time), and NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time)
1995WrestlingWon the NWA Tennessee Heavyweight Championship (2 times) and NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version); a popular star in Tennessee during the 1950s, his 1959 match against Sputnik Monroe at Russellwood Park was attended by 13,000 fans and held the attendance record for the city of Memphis for nearly 50 years before the Monday Night War period.[12]
2017Dave BrownCommentatorHosted Memphis Wrestling and Championship Wrestling for 25 years
2017Lance RussellCommentator
2017Jerry CalhounReferee
2017Bill DundeeWrestlingAWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (9 times), AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (14 times), AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times), CWA International Heavyweight Championship (4 times), CWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time), CWA Southwestern Heavyweight Championship (1 time), CWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (1 time), NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Memphis version) (1 time), NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (3 times), NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
2017Tommy, Eddie and Doug GilbertWrestlingProfessional wrestling family that often wrestled as a tag team. Tommy and Eddie Gilbert held the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship together twice.
2017Jimmy HartManagerLong time manager in the Memphis territory
2017Jerry LawlerWrestling and promotingWon the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (58 times), CWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), CWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Memphis version) (7 times)
2017Koko B. WareWrestlingAWA Southern Tag Team Championship (7 times), NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (6 times), NWA Mid-America Television Championship (1 time), USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), USWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)
2017The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey, Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane with Jim Cornette) Tag TeamVarious versions of the team head the team held the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship, CWA World Tag Team Championship and the NWA World Tag Team Championship
2018Mick FoleyWrestlingWon the CWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)
2021Bert PrenticeWrestling, promoting and managingManager and wrestler for several promotions; also promoted NWA Music City Wrestling and NWA Worldwide.
2021Randy HalesPromotingFounder of Power Pro Wrestling
2021Kurt AngleWrestlingWon the PPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
2021Scott SteinerWrestlingWon the CWA Tag Team Championship (3 times).
2021Tommy RichWrestlingWon the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (2 times), AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (4 times), CWA International Heavyweight Championship (1 time), CWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times), NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (2 times), NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times), NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Memphis version) (2 times), NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time)
2021Tony FalkWrestlingWon the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time), USWA Television Championship (1 time)
2021Reggie B. FineWrestlingWon the USWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)
2021Downtown BrunoManagingLong time manager in the Memphis territory
2022Don BassWrestling
2022The SnowmanWrestling
2022Big RedWrestling
2022Kerry Von ErichWrestling
2022Gypsy JoeWrestling
2022Nick GulasPromoting
2022Guy Coffey Promoting
2022Eddie MarlinWrestling and Promoting
2022The Moondogs (Spot, Rex and Cujo and Spike) Wrestling
2022Dr. FrankWrestling
2022Lord HumongousWrestling
2022Ox BakerWrestling
2022Mongolian StomperWrestling
2022Killer Karl Krupp Wrestling
2022Ricky GibsonWrestling
2022Leon Spinks
  • Celebrity Wing
2022Curt HennigWrestling
2022Nick BockwinkelWrestling
2022YokozunaWrestling
2022MabelWrestling
2022King Kong Bundy Wrestling
2022Plowboy FrazierWrestling
2022San Diego Chicken
  • Celebrity Wing
2022Junkyard DogWrestling
2022The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal)Wrestling
2022Bam Bam BigelowWrestling
2022Bob ArmstrongWrestling
2022Buddy WayneWrestling
2022Paul MortonReferee
2022Luna VachonWrestling
2022Sherri MartelWrestling
2022Candi DevineWrestling
2022Scott BowdenWrestling
2022Randy SavageWrestling
2022Rick RudeWrestling
2022Jim NeidhartWrestling
2022Andy KaufmanEntertainer and performance artist
2022Billy Joe TravisWrestling
2022Buddy LandelWrestling
2022Scott HallWrestling
2022Dream MachineWrestling
2022Adam West
  • Celebrity Wing
2022Corey MaclinAnnouncer
2022Brickhouse BrownWrestling
2022KamalaWrestling
2022Rocky JohnsonWrestling
2022Tracy SmothersWrestling
2022Brian ChristopherWrestling
2024Jimmy ValiantWrestling
2024 (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson)
Wrestling
2024 (J. C. Ice and Wolfie D)
Wrestling
2024The SpellbinderWrestling
2024Sir MoWrestling
2024Michael Saint JohnRing announcing
2024Terry Golden Promoting
2024Wrestling
2024Tom PrichardWrestling
2024Nightmare Danny DavisWrestling

Footnotes

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Memphis Hall of Fame . 2003 . Puroresu Dojo . Wrestling-Titles.com. April 15, 2012.
  2. Web site: Memphis Wrestling (Old) . Results . OnlineWorldofWrestling.com . April 15, 2012.
  3. Web site: Memphis Memories . Mid-South Coliseum 1994 (Jarrett) . ProWrestlingHistory.com . April 15, 2012.
  4. Web site: Eddie Gilbert Page 3 . Dills, Tim . Wrestlers . KayfabeMemories.com . April 15, 2012.
  5. Web site: Memphis Memories II . Mid-South Coliseum 1995 (Jarrett) . ProWrestlingHistory.com . April 15, 2012.
  6. Web site: Fast Facts about "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert . Riley, Patrick A. . All about Eddie . EddieGilbert.com . April 15, 2012.
  7. Web site: Eddie Gilbert . 2007 . Wrestler Profiles . OnlineWorldofWrestling.com . April 15, 2012.
  8. Web site: KM Hall of Fame . KayfabeMemories.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20050214034525/http://kayfabememories.com/Halloffame/hofmain.htm . February 14, 2005 . April 15, 2012.
  9. "RRO Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame." Declarationofindependents.net. Ed. Sean McCaffrey. N.p., 2008. Web. Apr. 15, 2011. .
  10. Web site: Memphis/CWA #21 Page #2 . Dills, Tim . Regional Territories: Memphis/CWA . KayfabeMemories.com . April 15, 2012.
  11. Web site: P. Y. Chu-Hi . Bios . Oklafan.com . April 15, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090926023229/http://www.oklafan.com/bios/820/profile.html . September 26, 2009 .
  12. News: Book chronicles Memphis mat memories . Mooneyham, Mike . . September 6, 2009 . April 15, 2012.

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